San Jose mayor abandons pension-reform initiative

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed is abandoning an attempt to place an initiative on the November ballot that would have enabled governments in California to cut future pension benefits for current workers.

After losing a court fight over the legal description of his initiative, Reed announced Friday that supporters will now target the 2016 ballot because they didn't have enough time to collect signatures for this year.

The initiative would have allowed city, county and other governments to reduce benefits through collective bargaining or a local vote. Reed calls Attorney General Kamala Harris' description of the initiative for signature-collecting forms "inaccurate and misleading." A Sacramento judge rejected Reed's challenge on Thursday.

Union leaders say the issue should be dealt with through bargaining, not at the ballot box.